Graduation!

Ok, so yard sales weren't the reason (or at least the main reason) that we went to Atlanta. We went to Atlanta for Andrew's graduation from Georgia Tech with his Master's in Mechanical Engineering. Friday afternoon we rushed home from yard saling, scarfed down some pizza with Andrew and Clay who then left to meet Daddy and Benjamin at Tech, took quick showers to wash off our yard sale sweat, and then proceeded to get all dolled up for the big night. Grandmama and Granddaddy rode with Mama, Molly Elizabeth and I to Tech, where we circled the block for about 15 minutes looking for a place to park. It seems there were a LOT of people who wanted to see Andrew graduate. Aunt Celesta, Uncle Steve and the kids were coming separately because they had to make a quick trip to the dentist. Since we were a little bit late (who's surprised?), we didn't get to see Andrew before the ceremony, but we met Daddy, Benjamin, and Clay, who had saved us seats, and proceeded to spend an exciting hour waiting on the ceremony to begin.

Benjamin, Granddaddy, Grandmama, Susan Liana, Clay, Clark, and Miranda waiting for the ceremony to begin. We were very thankful that Grandmama was feeling well enough to come. Doesn't she look pretty?!

Finally, Pomp and Circumstance began to play and we enjoyed watching all of the graduates march in, all 542 of them. It only took 30 minutes. Andrew was very near the end of the line; I guess they saved the best for last!

Andrew marching in.

Aunt Celesta, Uncle Steve, Audrey Kate, and Evan finally made it inside right after the processional. I say" inside" because they had been driving around campus for about 30 minutes looking for a place to park. Again, let me emphasize that there were a LOT of people who were anxious for a sight of Andrew in his cap and gown. The speaker, the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy, gave a pretty good speech. At least, I remember it being good, though, besides telling the graduates that they would be influential in saving the world from global warming, I can't say that I remember what he talked about. Oh, well.

After the speaker, we sat through the Ph.Ds getting their diplomas and then, finally, the moment we had been waiting for, sort of. The Master's were next, but, as I said before, Andrew was near the back of the line, which in this case was about 400 people long, and, so, we waited another 30 minutes for Andrew to walk across the stage. It was worth it though. Andrew crossed the stage amid clapping and cheering from his delighted family. In fact, Aunt Celesta's enthusiasm moved Audrey Kate to tears.

Andrew receives his diploma.

Then there were just a few more things - a short talk from the Alumni Association, the singing of the Alma Mater - and, amidst a shower of balloons, it was all over.

GA Tech does things a little different. Instead of throwing their hats in the air, Tech graduates pop balloons.

As we waded through the crowd trying to find Andrew, we couldn't quite believe that it was all over and Andrew had just graduated with his Master's Degree. Time surely does fly. We are SOOO proud of our graduate!

Front Row L-R: Susan Liana, Audrey Kate, Molly Elizabeth, and Evan

Back Row L-R: Grandmama, Miranda, Granddaddy, Andrew, Uncle Steve, Benjamin, Aunt Celesta, Clark, and Clay